Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-12-22

WIN NdBBic.
= Az tho door she noticed that tho |
small boy In gilt buttons was trying
TO comfort puny-looking cash boy,
whose eyes were red and swollen with
weeping.
There. run on now and look after
your parcels, or you'll got bounced"
little Buttons was saying, patting the
cash hoy's head patronizingly.
You're safe now, but / tell you you We
had narrow 'scapc, n no mistake"
What's The troubleP" inquired
Mrs. Howard Of Button, as the other
boy went away.
'Oh, nothin' much, ma am, only
that little feller dropped n silver fifty,
and the boss was goin' TO make him
lose IL out Of his pay tonight an he
was scared. for fifty cents is lot to
take from fellus' pay an It comm
Christmas, too, ma'am. An l don't
blame his cryln'. Well, you see he's
all right now 'cousc a girl, the incest
girl in tho store. all tho cashes likes
her bost-she up an paid the fifty
out OF her own purse. an said IL
wasn't tho little kids fault when every
one pushed him about in tho crowd,
an he new cash, anyway"
Mrs. Howard suspected who the
incest girl in the store might DO,
but nevertheless she inquired where
the girl was to be found.
Right over there. ma. am, ut
the novelty counter, The girl with
pretty gray eyes aud brown hair.
She's little, but she's sumner tell
your
The laly laughed and made her
way through n crowd. dense and eager,
OF shoppers, hoor-walkers and cash
boys until she drew near the novelty
counter Maggie was leaning back
ag ainst the shelves behind the counter.
her hands clasped loosely in front of
her. and look in her eyes which told
Of thoughts as far rs possible from tho
"madding crowd. Just onc-half
minute was she thus idle, for before
Mrs Howard could reach her she had
become the hurried slave of no less
Than three impatient ladies, who de-
manded almost imposslbilities Of her
However, there came another brief
respite, and this time Mrs. Howard
was armed with permission from tho
floor walker TO retire with Maggie Ia
the rear Of the store, where was n lit
tic parlor for the comfort Of ladies
who might wish TO make appoint.
ments with each other. and where she
and tho tired girl might have fe "
moments uninterrupted conversation.
Gladly Maggie went with her new
friend. and then il was that Mrs.
Howard learned this:
Four years before. Maggie and hel
parents had been very happy aud com.
Portable together on a small farm some
miles from the city. Then suddenly
sickness came. The father died. Bust
ness troubles accumulated. until n
last the widow and little daughter
were forced 10 sell their home. Mrs
Weston accepted n rather grudgingly'
given invitation from n distant rela-
tive to live with Instantly and "helI
around for her keep" Nothing els,
opening q better way before her
tho widow had remained there, giving
her services as we'll rs she could fol
her board and that Of her little girl Blu
Maggie had been unusually unhappy
there owing TO the constant teasin;
by the boys of the family. who made I
little slave of her, and had her pun
ished IL she complained: The moth
er's heart was constantly wrung b,
that state OF affairs, and. at last
year and half ago, Maggie felt i'm
poled to come 10 the city with a com
panion. who had 'learnod all IN
ropes" she expressed It. and try 4
learn few Of those same ropes,
for her mothers sake as we'll rs he
own. She boarded way over on tn
West Side, with her friend. in miser
able house which gave the two girl
: one small room together aud two scan
meals per day. Their lunohcons the
were supposed to find elsewhere. Las
Christmas Maggie had missed her dea
, mother almost beyond endurance. br
had hoped all through the year that a
: this Christmas time she might be give
n few days leave TO go and be wit
her mother But she had been told b
: the proprietor Of the store that all girI
- who chose to leave. even for
day, might consider thcmselvC
dismissed. 81 she had given u
! ali hop, OF seeing the deg
G mother. aud Oh. how lonely she woul
D be on Christmas day again, and ho'
q mamma would miss herl "Why.
G she added. ut the conclusion OF he
, little story. 'you can't think how
! was feeling that day when you FIR
: spoke 10 me, and asked IL W;
tired.
B. "Aud you seemed 10 think ii
|, Christmas would make every thin
h right againP'
c oh. dear LADY, you didn't know
: hat l had in my pocket lott'
J. which had coGe only that mornin
D from mamma in answer TO min'
c saying that perhaps, rs ! couldn't e
Y away for Christmas, | might 80
!. leave just to go and spend Ne
G Years day with her But II couldn
s even do that why then we must bot
remember there was some good ro
+ son in Gods mind for the dlsappoin
: mont, and we could at any rate Wi
= each other ''happy Now Year I
y letter Well, when Mr. - fouI
g that couldn't get back from the
y enrly in the morning. II went.
!, account Of the train hours. he said
had better not 90; and so, you Sc
q ma am, that puts an end TO all n
q plans, and | have written to Il
y, mother just how 1t is. "
N Poor child" said Mrs. Howar